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Rooftop	By : justalilwriter Category: Comics > Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Views: 6390 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I make no claim towards ownership of the characters, plot lines, or other related TMNT properties contained within this story. I can only claim to own my own original characters and as such this story is not being written for profit.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Chapter 4: Working Things Out

“You know what I want to do right now?”
“Swim in a vat of Icy-Hot?”
“Aside from that.”
“Eat everything in sight?”
“God, yes. What the hell is it about working out that makes you so hungry?”
“I’m gonna guess the excessive use of energy. Or maybe it’s the whole feeling like you’re gonna drop dead thing making you want to eat to survive.”
“Both make sense to me.”
Jamie and Erin turned their eyes towards one another, exchanging an agreeing look before they groaned in unison, happy to rest their heads against the back of the seat. Hitting the gym for a good workout was something meant to make a person feel fit or healthy and both women felt like neither of those two things. Possibly given that their workout routine was sporadic at best. They would have likely felt better about making the effort to hit the gym if they were prone to actually following through on doing so more than a few times a month, so it was truthfully no real surprise that everything seemed to hurt at that moment. Erin knew that the tender feeling in her thighs, stomach, and arms would probably only grow worse come the next day, thankful that her shift for Monday was over and she had all of her Tuesday off to relax. At least as much as her inevitable soreness would let her.
“We really need to make this more of a regular thing.”
“Yeah,” Jamie agreed, blowing an errant curl from her brow with a puff of air from her lips. “We kinda suck at it.”
“And we say this exact same thing every time too.”
“Yes, we do.”
Her best friend made a noise that sounded like an odd mix of a pained groan and a distressed whine, tilting sideways so she could rest her head against Erin’s shoulder. It was a bit awkward to reach up to pat Jamie’s cheek with the way she was positioned, but Erin did her best regardless, closing her eyes as she felt the taxi shift lanes. Were it not for the minor aches she felt in her muscles it may have been possible for her to fall asleep in the backseat, even though she knew it would’ve been a stupid thing to do when she technically still had plans that night. What those plans actually entailed, other than two very large and very green individuals, was what Erin wished she knew. Truth be told, she was nervous about what sort of tests or trails might be before her. Leonardo had suggested that, while he felt more certain of her honesty, there was only one way to be positive that she was truly a trustworthy person. What would happen if she failed to provide the closure that Raphael and his brother were looking for? She didn’t think either of them had any intention of doing her any harm, but it was still a little nerve wracking to feel so in the dark about what would be coming her way that night.
“Hey. You all right?”
Erin opened her eyes, realizing that she hadn’t noticed Jamie’s head moving away from her shoulder at all, seeing the concern in the blue eyes that were watching her. A small part of her, one that told Jamie damn near everything, wanted to confess her fears, but she knew that she wasn’t at liberty to do so. She’d made a promise not to tell anyone about the turtles and as often as she confided in her closest friend whenever something was weighing on her mind, this was simply one instance in which she had to go against what had begun to feel instinctive over years of friendship. Jamie was someone Erin could trust with anything, but that didn’t mean the same could be said for Raphael and so she simply forced a tiny smile for Jamie’s benefit.
“Yeah. Just silently kicking myself for how bad I am at this whole gym thing.”
“Well, we’re just gonna have to try to start nagging each other on a regular basis until we get better at being consistent. Lord only knows I’m tired of Theo making jokes about my baby weight.”
“Theo needs to learn how to shut his damn mouth. You’re hot as is, James.”
“Tell that to him.”
“Next time I see him I will.”
Erin watched Jamie grin, wondering if the other woman knew how sincere the statement had been. If Jamie’s boyfriend had been serious in any fashion with his jokes then he damn sure needed to be taken down a peg. Jamie was and had always been a curvy woman and she was gorgeous. Theo was lucky to be with her and Erin would be damned if she’d let the guy continue upsetting her closest gal pal, even if he didn’t do so intentionally. Especially since she’d been the one to introduce the two of them in the first place some time ago. Theo was a good guy, loving and funny, but sometimes he had possessed a severe lack of tact that got on the nerves of those close to him, particularly the mother of his child. Sometimes the guy just needed a stern talking to or perhaps a light slug to the arm when he was being especially obnoxious and Erin would be all too glad to deliver both if the need arose.
The cab pulled to a slow stop alongside the curb, the driver alerting the two women that they’d arrived at their first destination. Erin dragged a few bills out of her purse, handing her half of the cab fare to the driver before bidding Jamie good bye with a hug and a promise to call her tomorrow. She withheld a pitiful moan as she slowly eased out of the vehicle, facial expression one of tired distress as her sneaker-clad feet slowly led her upstairs to her apartment; legs protesting the entire way up. She wanted a shower so badly, craving the feel of hot water cascading all over her to wash away the scent of sweat and some of the discomfort, making a beeline towards her bathroom to turn on the facet as soon as she was home, letting the water run for a short while. It usually took a minute for the temperature to heat up to the level she wanted, allowing her time to head in to her bedroom to grab her change of clothes. Her scalp felt a bit itchy from the sweat she’d shed, particularly around her nape and temples, and she generally felt grungy, pausing in the doorway at the sound of a rapping on her window.
“Oh man, already?”
By now Erin had learned not to assume she’d just been imagining things, setting her clothes on the edge of the bed as she walked to the window and started to tug it up, letting out a cuss as it gave her as much trouble as yesterday. A large green hand gripped the bottom of the frame, helping her push it upwards with more ease, and she stepped back a bit, finding a smile coming to her lips almost instantly at the sight of Raphael crouched there on the fire escape. Somehow, even though Leonardo had seemed less outwardly standoffish, she couldn’t help feeling more comfortable with Raphael since she’d spoken with him more. His oftentimes scowling countenance was more familiar and somehow welcome in an odd way, possibly because she knew that there was more to him than just the surface crankiness he’d shown. She’d gotten to see little fragments of more, bits of humor and sarcasm, as well as that hint of thoughtfulness he’d shown in being so concerned for his family. Despite the fact that she had no earthly clue what sort of tests she might have ahead of her, she found that she was actually sort of glad to see him. It felt like a welcome sign that her prior fears had abated.
“Didn’t think you were ever gonna get home,” he grumbled, slipping inside the apartment and giving her a quick once over, most likely due to the clothes she had on. “Wasn’t expectin’ you to be the workin’ out type.”
“I’m kinda not. At least not more than a few times every other week. Thanks for not scaring the crap out of me this time, by the way. It’s a nice change of pace.”
“I figure after almost fallin’ off a roof and havin’ my bro make you nearly bash your head in, any more surprises might actually kill ya eventually.”
She really had become more prone to injury or shock over the course of the past several days, hadn’t she? The thought made Erin want to shake her head, but she opted not to, moving to the bed to scoop up her clothes again.
“I was about to take a quick shower. Wash the sweat smell off and all that. Do you mind waiting a minute or so before we leave?”
She stood by the bed, watching as Raphael meandered around her room, looking at the pictures she’d hung up on the walls and the little knick-knacks she had placed here and there, expression neutral as he assessed his surroundings. For as much as he didn’t trust her, he certainly seemed comfortable enough in her bedroom, lifting up a stress ball she’d left on a table to toss it up and catch it a few times. He didn’t seem particularly happy or friendly, not that she’d have expected him to be, but he appeared more at ease hanging around her room than his brother had been. It was a tiny difference that told her a great deal, wondering if Raphael was truly more prone to indifference where any sort of modesty being in a woman’s room was concerned. Or maybe he was expressing a more casual demeanor, because he’d begun to shed his own fears of what trouble she could cause. She couldn’t claim to be entirely sure and thought better of asking about it for now.
“If you really can make it quick then it’s fine. Though where we’re goin’ I don’t think you should be worryin’ about bad smells too much.”
Erin wasn’t sure what that meant or how apprehensive she ought to be, staring at him awkwardly before she turned towards the doorway.
“Once you’re dressed, meet us down in the alley on your side of the buildin’.”
“Us? Leonardo came with you?”
“Not Leo.”
How many brothers did he have exactly? Erin couldn’t recall if Leonardo had mentioned a specific number or if there was only Raphael and himself. Erin was completely in the dark about who this other person might be, but if she had a completely different turtle she was about to meet in the next few minutes she could say that she was at least glad she felt better equipped to handle it without any of her prior freak outs. She promised Raphael she wouldn’t be long and headed in to her bathroom, thick with steam and invitingly warm. Erin washed her hair and body thoroughly, until she felt appropriately clean and no longer itchy from sweat, toweling her hair as well as she could. As long as the strands were she doubted they’d be fully dry any time soon and didn’t think that time needed to be wasted messing with the blow dryer, pulling the damp locks up with a band near her nape once she’d gotten dressed. No comments had been made about having to garb herself in any particular way, so she went with comfortable and casual; jeans and a tank top with her sneakers, shoving her keys and cellphone in to one of the pockets of her hoodie once she’d headed out the door. The trek downstairs was less painful than it had been going up and with her brain going a mile a minute wondering over the possibilities of what was coming, the aches seemed easier to ignore.
Erin tried to make certain she looked composed as she left her building and moved along the sidewalk, hoping the pensive expression she carried wouldn’t draw any attention, though it seemed doubtful. If there was anything she’d learned while walking along the streets of NYC, it was that a person could easily become lost in the crowds or overlooked, even when they were sparser in the later hours of the evening. She didn’t notice anyone glancing her way as she neared the alley Raphael had specified, glancing behind her once she’d stepped off the sidewalk and in to the shadows, moving further back and away from the noise of the streets. Her green acquaintance was nowhere to be seen initially, causing Erin to glance around as she moved slowly along, spotting only bits of litter and sealed trash bins for a few moments.
“Raphael?”
“Yeah?”
The voice came from right behind her and she sucked in a breath, holding it as she whirled around quickly, glowering at Raphael with a clear lack of amusement.
“Would you please stop doing that? Christ, you’re like a freaking ninja!”
“Actually, we are.”
Erin nearly jumped out of her skin at the second voice, speaking right behind her, and Raphael caught her by the arms when the motion nearly caused her to bump in to him, her glare intensifying when he grinned at her skittishness. She turned again when Raphael’s hands released her, calming since the fright had been temporary, and coming face to face with another turtle. The unfamiliar sound of his voice as well as the purple color he wore across his eyes and the staff strapped to his back told her that he was definitely a new turtle, possibly another brother. He seemed to be a differing hue of green compared to Leonardo and Raphael, making Erin wonder if that was just one another way she’d be able to tell them all apart by base appearances. There were subtle variances that she’d noticed in the shapes of their eyes and facial structure, of course, but at a first glance she’d imagine they’d all be a little hard to differentiate without the individualized color preferences. The smile the new turtle offered was a little sheepish and certainly apologetic, matching his next few words.
“Sorry about that. It’s a bit of a habit for us to be sneaky.”
“Yeah. Right. The whole…ninja…thing. You guys are gonna have to explain that one to me at some point.”
She wanted this meeting to at least go a little better than the last two, so Erin held out her hand and though he hesitated for a brief moment, the unfamiliar terrapin reached out to shake it with a firm grip.
“I’m gonna go out on a limb here, buuuut…Michelangelo?”
“Donatello actually. Michelangelo is our other brother.”
The fact that there was yet another sibling she had yet to meet had Erin glancing at Raphael in astonishment. The more relatives she came to learn about, the more understanding she felt regarding his lack of trust in her. When a person had so many people that meant a great deal who to them, who they wanted to keep safe it seemed perfectly reasonable to be standoffish towards anyone who could bring them to harm in some way.
“Damn. You’ve got a lot of brothers.”
“Yeah. All of ‘em annoyin’ as shit.”
“We’ve got to give you back all the aggravation you give us, Raph.”
Raphael gave Donatello’s shoulder a light shove before he moved past him and further in to the alley, the smile lingering on the purple-clad turtle’s face showing that the physical contact had been simply antagonizing, brotherly camaraderie. Erin had no siblings of her own, but she’d been around enough brothers and sisters throughout her life to see the way they could act and the interaction between Raphael and Donatello seemed very normal thus far. Just like any other family, but with giant turtles who were apparently also ninjas. Erin took after Donatello and followed Raphael, feeling her stomach twist up in knots as they both watched him lift and set aside a manhole cover leading down in to the sewers. That couldn’t really be where they were going, could it?
“Erin?”
Donatello paused, waiting to see if he had used the right name, which she assumed had been given to him by his other brothers, before he finished saying what he had in mind.
“If you’re carrying anything in your pockets, like keys or a cell phone, could you let me see them for a moment?”
“Sure,” she agreed, unable to help the awkwardly questioning tone of her voice as she fished out the items in question from the pocket they resided in.
Donatello began looking her keys over first, examining each individual one and the few decorative key chains she had attached before handing them back over. His large thumb began ghosting over the keypad of her phone, eyes locked on the screen with a calculating gaze that seemed almost intense in a way. He turned the device over, giving it a thorough examination that left Erin fairly baffled, wondering what exactly he was doing until he handed her possessions back to her.
“Thank you. I just needed to check for any bugs. It’s a precautionary measure, so…no offense.”
“It’s okay.”
Oddly enough it was. Despite her reservations about the situation and whatever it might entail, she felt that she had to be a little open minded about the way they all handled things. Their precautions were present for a reason and if she wanted to abolish the mistrust they felt, make them really believe in the honesty she’d offered thus far, then refusing to let herself be offended by their suspicious actions was her best bet. At any rate, Donatello did seem glad that she appeared understanding of his assessment of her belongings.
“All clear then, bro?”
“Yeah. All clear. Let’s get going.”
Donatello moved towards the open manhole and jumped right down in to the darkness without any sign of worry or notice for the ladder he could’ve used, leaving Erin to consider how he’d slipped through so easily with the bo staff he had strapped to his shell. Raphael mentioned to her with a wave of his hand, reaching for a strip of black fabric he’d had tied to his belt the entire time, which she even hadn’t noticed until he unraveled it and began to hold it up to her eye level.
“You’re going to blindfold me?”
“Can’t have you rememberin’ the way we’re takin’ you.”
“I’m guessing making a pinkie swear not to pay attention to the way we’re going isn’t gonna get me out of wearing that, is it?”
Raphael sighed, as if her disquiet at the loss of visibility he expected her to endure was trying his patience.
“Stop worryin’. Donnie and I’ll make sure to steer you the right way. I ain’t-”
“You’re not going to hurt me,” she said, cutting him off, and reminding them both what they’d mutually promised to one another. “All right. On with the blindfold.”
Erin closed her eyes and waited, feeling the cloth pressing across them as the blindfold was secured in to place, the tightness of the knot loosened a little when she winced in discomfort. She stood quietly, unable to see anything and waiting for instructions or a hand to guide her along, turning her head quickly in the general direction of a finger snapping sound near her face; probably Raphael’s means of making sure she really couldn’t see. His hands wrapped around her forearms, large enough in size that her limbs felt tiny in their hold, and she followed where he led her slowly, trying to pay attention to what she could hear, feel and smell with her vision blocked out.
“I’m gonna drop you down, so try not to scream or anythin’. Donnie’s down at the bottom and he’ll catch you.”
“Yay.”
The uttered word lacked any enthusiasm whatsoever.
“Arms against your chest. Legs straight. Got it?”
“Mm-hm.”
“All right then.”
Raphael’s hands moved from her arms to her waist right away and she tried not to let herself feel overly jarred by the suddenness of him lifting her off the ground, tucking her arms tightly against her chest as she’d been instructed. It was pointless to scrunch her eyes shut in anticipation when she couldn’t even see, but she did so anyway, feeling the rush of air as she was let go, dropping down in to the waiting arms of Donatello. He caught her with ease, without so much of a grunt or any sound to indicate that her weight had strained him, unable to help leaning her head against his shoulder in relief that the drop had passed so quickly.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Good catch.”
“Thanks,” he told her, sounding faintly pleased by her appraisal as he moved along a few steps, setting her down on her feet as she heard the scrap of the manhole cover closing and Raphael’s body dropping almost noiselessly beside them.
“We’ve got a bit of a walk ahead of us, but Raph and I will keep you on track.”
Donatello set her down, leaving Erin to stand still and a bit lost until Raphael began to push her forward, her hands instinctively lifting to search out ahead until she felt the hard, grooved surface of a shell against her fingers.
“Just hold on to me.”
She flattened her palms against the shell and gave a wordless nod, assuming Donatello had seen it given that he started walking at a casual pace, making it easier for her to follow. Thus far he’d been very reassuring; his voice almost gentle in quality, and Erin wondered if the thoughtfulness he’d been showing was very common of his personality. He seemed like he’d be very easy to get along with and perhaps it was his disposition or her having already met two of his kind prior that made her feel really comfortable in his presence.
“So, I know why the blindfold is necessary, but am I allowed to ask any questions about general stuff?”
“Like what?”
“Well, how long have you guys lived down here? Or in New York? Whichever one is safe to answer.”
“I think they’re both pretty safe questions.”
Donatello lead her along, answering some of the simple inquiries she’d made to help keep her mind off of her present blindness and the unpleasant scent of the closed off air in the sewer. She heard a number of other sounds beyond Donnie’s voice, such as the flow of water and the padding of Raphael following behind, never really joining in on the conversation. Sometimes, she even forgot that he was there with as quiet as he’d become, reminded of his presence when his hand would sometimes reach out to help steer her around something she could trip over. Although he remained wordless during the long trek, he didn’t seem to protest any of the answers Donatello gave her. It was nice to learn Donnie enjoyed tinkering with things and that their other brother, Michelangelo, was an avid comic book collector. She liked finding out that they’d lived in New York since childhood, beneath the streets, and that more often than not they preferred pizza for dinner, though arguments tended to break out over preferred toppings. They were just tiny breadcrumbs that left her wanting to know even more, but she welcomed them nonetheless. Maybe, if things went well with whatever interrogation or test they had prepared for her, she could get to know them all better.
“Have you ever worked regular customer service?”
“Nah. Just tech support. It was frustrating sometimes, but I’d take helping with pc repair over arguing about phone rates.”
“It’s not the best way to spend a day, yeah. Pays the bills, though.”
Donatello drew to a halt and asked Erin to let go of his shell rather than continuing the conversation about their similar work experiences. She had a number of questions about how exactly a talking turtle could manage to land a tech support position, but she figured it was a talk to continue at another time. With the almost casual rapport Donatello and herself had built over the past several minutes, she had a feeling they’d probably resume where they’d left off at some point if things panned out all right. Fellow phone reps, former and current, had to share customer horror stories, after all. Erin let her hands drop to her sides, hearing Donatello move ahead, head glancing around when she heard what sounded very much like shifting stone. Raphael took her by the elbow, his grip firm yet not harsh, leading her forward several steps as the noise from before signaled a passage closing at their backs.
“It should be all right to take this off now.”
The light hitting her eyes after so many minutes of seeing blackness made Erin temporarily flinch when the blindfold came off, blinking a few times to let her vision adjust to the new surroundings. She wasn’t sure what precisely she’d envisioned the turtles’ home to be like, particularly after dropping down in to the sewers, but what she saw before her caught her completely by surprise. Despite being beneath the city the lair didn’t feel or even look closed off, the ceilings high while the walls were far apart, allowing for a vast living space. There was mostly brick everywhere, with a number of large wires tethered to the walls in places and the faint hum of power mixing with the bleeping of a few old arcade games and a large TV. There were closed doorways on the upper walkway clinging to the edges of the room and a few old pieces of furniture that looked like they’d been scooped up some time ago. There was a bit of clutter, from weights to books and tools, but it gave the place a comfortable, lived in sort of feeling and mercifully, Erin was glad to find that it smelled nothing like the unpleasant tunnels they’d been walking through.
“Keep your mouth hangin’ open like that and you’re gonna catch flies.”
Erin’s lips sealed shut, but the amazement and curiosity in her eyes didn’t lessen as she followed Raphael down the set of steps he’d begun to descend, Donatello walking at her side.
“This is quite a place. How on earth did you put it all together?”
“A lot of work and a bit of personal ingenuity. Most of the power we get is through a generator system I put together and with the security precautions we’ve got set up we manage to keep pretty well hidden. Impressed?”
“Yeah. Very.”
Donatello really hadn’t been just throwing around a false ego when he’d casually stated that he was technically savvy. She had no doubt that he’d had some help from his siblings getting everything set up, but the inventiveness he’d managed in making their home thrive without drawing attention from any sort of public utilities company was something amazing. He didn’t seem to gloat about it either, smiling with a quiet pride at Erin’s continued awe as he gave her shoulder a quick pat, promising he’d speak with her more later as he headed off to a large alcove on the far side of the lair to occupy his attention with something else. Raphael remained near her after they’d reached the bottom of the steps, his arms crossed, and his feet braced apart in a relaxed stance, his eyes following her every movement as she took in the details of the living space around her.
“I’m surprised you haven’t asked for the tour yet.”
“Do I get to? I’m kinda figuring you guys didn’t bring me down here just to show me you sweet digs.”
“Heh. Yeah. Wasn’t really the plan. If you impress Master Splinter then you might get a look around. Mikey’s probably itchin’ to show you this place. Or just meet’cha period.”
“Hey! You’re back!”
“And speakin’ of Mikey…”
Raphael’s head was already shaking in some sort of mild exasperation and Erin’s focus could only remain on the reaction for as long as it took for the rush of footsteps heading down the steps towards the two of them to distract her, watching the only turtle she’d had yet to meet eagerly making his way in her direction specifically. As with his other siblings, the green of his skin bore a different tone and while his brothers’ all possessed brown eyes, Michelangelo’s were blue; sharply contrasting the orange mask he wore. There was no sign of tension in his limbs or assessing wariness in his eyes, the wide smile on his face making him seem almost happy to see her, and the look was practically infectious. Erin couldn’t fight the smile that came, particularly when he held out a hand for what seemed to be a greeting fist bump. As unexpected as his enthusiasm was, Erin couldn’t say she didn’t appreciate it, bumping her fist against his with only a mild amount of awkwardness since she hardly knew him.
“Hey there, Dudette! I’m sure my bros told you all about me already, but I’m Michelangelo. You can just call me Mikey, though. S’less of a mouthful.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Erin and…well…that’s pretty much what everyone calls me. Kinda hard to shorten an already short name.”
“I can probably hook you up with a sweet nickname sometime. I’m good at that kinda thing.”
“You mean bein’ annoyin’?” Raphael chimed in and though his words weren’t kind, there was no actual malice to them whatsoever and his grin made it abundantly clear that he was just joshing.
“Nah, bro. I think you meant awesome. You’re getting your ‘A’ words mixed up.”
“Nope. Pretty sure annoyin’ was the exact word I was lookin’ for.”
Michelangelo threw a punch at his brother’s head, but the lack of force behind the blow and the ease with which Raphael caught his fist showed it hadn’t been a serious strike in the least.
“Erin? Did you just get here?”
The beginnings of a short tussle between siblings was forgotten with Leonardo’s appearance, the apparent leader of the brothers looking down from the second level, hands on the railing as he surveyed what was going on below. He vaulted over the bar without pause, landing just a few steps from the conversing trio, and he offered a nod of greeting to the human woman.
“Yeah. Just a few minutes ago.”
“Great. Raph and Donnie were gone for long enough that I was beginning to wonder if you were even coming.”
He seemed almost relieved that she had and she couldn’t be certain if that relief was due to seeing his brothers return home safely or if her arrival meant that he hadn’t been wrong in his judgment of her character the previous evening.
“And now that I’m here?”
“Now you’ll meet Master Splinter. He’s been waiting for you, so let me take you to him.”
Leonardo held out an arm, gesturing in the direction that he meant for her to go, and Erin did as he expected, the katana totting turtle moving right along beside her. At least for all of a couple of steps, a groan from Michelangelo causing them both to curiously look in his direction, seeing that he appeared fairly let down.
“Already? She just got here and we haven’t even gotten to talk much yet.”
“If things go well then there’ll be time later for getting to know each other, Mikey. You know Master Splinter doesn’t like to be left waiting for too long.”
“Raphael mentioned you’d probably want to be the one to give me the grand tour. Show me around in a little while?”
The suggestion had Michelangelo’s disappointed face reverting back to its previously smiling state and it made Erin feel almost relieved. Even though she’d hardly exchanged more than a few sentences with him, seeing anything other than a smile or a grin on Mikey’s face seemed wrong somehow. She continued back in the direction Leo had indicated to, hearing Michelangelo telling Raphael something about how she was a seven, whatever that meant, as the creeping return of her prior anxiety began to resurface with every step she took towards a partly opened doorway. She knew little about this Master Splinter she was due to meet, even less than she knew about the turtles, but the way he seemed to be regarded made her feel that it was incredibly important that she gain his approval. The brothers spoke of him with a great deal of respect and though Leonardo seemed to have an air of authority about him, Master Splinter sounded as if he was the true head of the family. If she failed to make him see that she was nothing to fear then she wasn’t sure what would happen.
Leonardo leaned his head in through the partly opened doorway once they reached it, leaving Erin unable to see inside the room, and she shoved her hands in to the pockets of her hoodie to stop the urge to pick at her nails out of apprehension. She heard a voice, deep and gravelly in quality, responding to Leonardo’s announcement that she had arrived and the turtle pulled back from the door, nodding his head through the entrance to urge her within. Erin offered him a weak smile, expelling a heavy breath to help calm her nerves, and she began to move towards the door, the whisper of Leo’s voice briefly halting her.
“Don’t worry. Master Splinter has always been a good judge of character. Just be who you are and everything will be all right.”
She whispered her thanks, appreciative of the reassurances he’d offered, and she stepped in to the room, hearing the door shutting behind her. The décor was decidedly Japanese, with old tatami mats on the floor and pieces of calligraphy on the walls, the entire space illuminated by dozens of candles that had long since begun to leave trails of wax over the edges of the tables they sat upon. What caught her attention much more than the appearance of the chamber was the person residing within it, trying to keep her expression neutral as she came face to face with Master Splinter. She’d expected another turtle, not a very large rat, and while it was a little jarring to be encountering another type of non-human creature, she didn’t feel particularly scared. Rats had never bothered her and the utter calm visible on Splinter’s face seemed to radiate outward from his whole being, giving her a sense that she was perfectly safe with him even if she was still worried about how she might fail to impress him.
“You needn’t be afraid. Please, come and sit.”
Erin did as he bid her, moving the rest of the way across the room to settle herself on the floor opposite of him, a low table between them. Upon coming closer she realized that he had on what looked to be a maroon robe, the color faded with age even though the material hardly seemed frayed at all, and regardless of all the hair that covered him from head to toe, he still seemed to have a goatee of sorts hanging from his chin.
“My sons tell me that your name is Erin.”
“Yeah. Erin Brooks. And you’re Master Splinter, right?”
“Yes. Would you care for some tea, Miss Brooks?”
A rat offering tea? There was certainly one thing she never thought she’d experience. Regardless of the oddness of the situation, she shook her head in the negative, unable to really think about eating or drinking at the moment. Her gaze remained settled firmly on Splinter as he lifted a heavy teapot and poured the contents of what seemed to be a green tea in to a small, ceramic glass before he took a slow sip.
“So…you said that the guys were your sons? When they called you ‘master’ I figured that maybe you were…a teacher or something like that. I didn’t know you were their dad.”
How a talking rat had talking turtles for sons was one very difficult to figure out equation she hoped he’d elaborate on, body practically rooted to the floor as Master Splinter set his glass aside and stood, using the aid of a wooden staff he’d kept nearby to help himself stand, though somehow she wasn’t wholly positive he was as feeble as the use of it made him appear.
“I am both, Miss Brooks. Father and teacher. We all have many different roles we play throughout the course of our lives. I will gladly take upon the role of storyteller and tell you all about my family…if you would permit me to ask a few questions about yourself.”
“Sure. Ask away.”
She didn’t bother to correct him, tell him to simply call her ‘Erin’ rather than ‘Miss Brooks’, because he didn’t feel like the sort of person one was supposed to correct. He began to walk around the table slowly and she turned to face him when he came to a stop at her side, setting her hands in her lap as he looked down at her. His expression was calm, unreadable, and though there was nothing harsh about it, Erin felt more heavily scrutinized then she thought she ever had in her life, even more so than when Leonardo had been assessing her the other night.
“Have you lived in New York a long time?”
“No. Can’t say that I have. I moved here about three years ago actually. I’m from North Carolina originally, but I moved to Connecticut when I was four, so that’s what I’ve always considered home.”
“Do you intend to stay here in the city for a long time?”
“That was the plan. I’ve got a job and an apartment and I can’t see any real reason not to stay. I kinda like the city life.”
“Even though the city can, at times, be unpredictable?”
She knew what he meant by that and at first she wasn’t sure how to respond, staring up at him with some hope that maybe his eyes would give her some inkling as to what answer he needed or wanted her to give. She didn’t want to get this wrong, didn’t want to say something that would make him see any cause to find fault in the honesty of her person, and it was after a moment that Leo’s words came back to remind her what she needed to do. She just had to be herself. That was what Splinter was looking for.
“Life is always unpredictable no matter where you live and I like to think I’m pretty good at adapting to change.
“And how do you plan to adapt to the changes my sons and I have brought in to your life?”
“Well, Mikey…I mean…Michelangelo was going to show me around the lair. He seemed pretty excited about it. Donatello and I had a pretty good talk on the way here about being phone reps, so I was hoping we could swap customer horror stories. I’d like to get to know Leonardo a little better and as for Raphael…”
Splinter nodded at her pause, bidding her to continue.
“He sorta made me almost kill myself and then he saved my life and I don’t think he’s stopped worrying since it happened. I want the two of us to get to know each other better, because I think if he could see that hurting him or any of you is the last thing I want to do then maybe he’d stop being so damn ticked off and let the two of us become friends.”
He actually laughed at that, the sound something very comforting to hear, and when it faded, a smile lingering in its wake, Master Splinter bid her to stand up with a gesture of his fingers. She nearly towered over him in a way with the manner in which his shoulders slightly hunched forward as he leaned on his cane, but even despite her greater height he still seemed to have a much stronger presence than her own. Unexpectedly, he bowed his head to her and Erin felt that she was meant to do the same, her smile hopeful when he patted her arm with a sort of warmth behind the gesture.
“One thing you must learn about Raphael, Miss Brooks, is that he tends to be ‘ticked off’ quite often. But I would not give up hope. When he realizes that doing the right thing by saving you will prove more beneficial than harmful, he will come around.”
“Beneficial?”
“Yes. We remain hidden for reasons I am certain you understand and I believe another trusted friend is something my sons would greatly appreciate having.”
Erin realized that somehow Master Splinter had seen what he’d needed to see, had come to find that she meant more good than harm, and the relief was so immense she almost couldn’t believe it. Rather than revel in that alleviation of stress, Erin focused on what she most wanted to in that instant.
“So, do I get to see you become a storyteller now?”
Master Splinter gave another soft laugh and nodded his agreement, urging her to sit back down.
There was a long story waiting to be told.

~ ~
How damn long did an interrogation have to take?
He hated waiting. He absolutely hated it. Particularly when he was waiting to find out for certain if a mistake he’d made was going to come back to bite him, along with his family, in the ass. While he knew that Master Splinter was definitely the best person to decide if Erin was as trustworthy as she claimed she could be, having to sit around idly while anticipating what was to come had him feeling far too distracted to do anything else. Much like Michelangelo had claimed to have felt while waiting for news about what Leonardo and himself had discussed with their sensei. Everything about the past several minutes, from watching his brothers go about their business as if occupying their thoughts was an easy endeavor to staring at the closed door to their father’s room, had Raphael wanting to just barge in to find out what the verdict on everything was. He wanted to bloody well know if he’d been stupid to even allow himself the briefest desire to believe in what Erin had promised him. He wanted to feel absolved of the guilt he’d been experiencing at potentially having brought harm to his loved ones. As chaotic as his nature tended to be, even Raphael could crave peace of mind and as the minutes ticked on by, he wanted it more and more.
As he attempted to distance his thoughts from what Master Splinter may have been discovering about the woman he instead turned his mind to the conversation she’d had with Donatello. Even though she’d been blindfolded and led to some unknown place beneath the streets, clearly fearful judging by the way she’d occasionally jumped at the sound of skittering rats and the groaning of old pipes, she had built a rapport with Donnie that had seemed easy. As easy as the conversation he’d heard her having on her cellphone a few nights ago. He’d been unable to chime in, to make any remarks as the two chatted amiably, because he simply hadn’t known what to say. He’d been too busy trying to figure her out, attempting to decide if the casual way she carried herself and the way she so easily adapted to Donnie’s presence was just genuinely her or some sort of carefully put together façade. The more he’d watched and listened, the more he felt that he wanted to trust her, more so than he had that second night up on her roof. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to decide what to make of the seemingly ordinary woman.
He welcomed the reprieve from his thoughts that came once the door to Splinter’s chamber came open, his sensei stepping out with Erin following after. Rather than head down from where he stood, elbows draped against the railing that hugged the upper level of the lair, he watched from his vantage point as his brothers moved to greet the pair.
“Well? Is everything…” Leonardo asked first, voice trailing off as he looked from Master Splinter to Erin and then back.
“Everything is fine, my son.”
Splinter turned towards Erin and the two exchanged relaxed smiles, without any sign of tension or worry seeming to exist between them.
“Miss Brooks will be of no threat to our family. I am certain of it. And, if the way her stomach was growling when I told her about the origin of our family is any indication, I’d imagine she would appreciate some of your leftover pizza, Michelangelo.”
Both Leonardo and Donatello seemed relieved while Michelangelo seemed positively excited by the news, leaving Raphael to remain where he stood in a state of lingering uncertainty. As Mikey asked Erin what sort of pizza toppings she liked, insisting that they ought to just order a new one for the evening, Raphael tried to sort out his thoughts. While he too was relieved by Master Splinter’s assessment, feeling as if some sort of weight had been lifted, there was some indescribable frustration lingering within him. He didn’t know if it was out of having been stressed over seemingly nothing, if he personally wasn’t convinced yet, or if he felt foolish for not believing the woman in the first place. At the very least, he could say that he was thankful not to feel as if he’d screwed his family over by bringing Erin in to their lives, hoping that things would remain that way.
“Come on. I’ll heat you up a slice so you’ve got something to chow down on until the new pizza gets here.”
Mikey began to lead Erin towards the kitchen and Donnie seemed ready to follow, Leo hanging back to speak with Master Splinter, no doubt about how he’d come to his conclusions about the woman, when Raphael noticed Erin looking up to notice him in turn. She excused herself from the others, telling Mikey and Donnie she’d be there in a minute, and Raphael looked away when she began to ascend the nearest set of stairs, making her way to where he stood until she was beside him, mirroring the bracing of his arms over the railing. He felt her elbow briefly brushing his, reminded of the way they’d stood on her roof the second time they’d shared a conversation.
“So, Big Red, are you still not really sure I’m gonna be good and keep quiet?”
“Nah. Got no reason to not believe you now. Not after Master Splinter got to talk to you.”
“That’s cool and all, but I want to know how you feel about this. Regardless of what your sensei says.”
“You want the truth?”
“Mm-hm.”
“It’s irritatin’ as fuck when you call me Big Red. You didn’t forget my name already, did you?”
Erin snorted, having not expected something like that apparently, but accepting what he had offered regardless without pushing for more. Raphael still felt somewhat conflicted and yet despite that, he was more willing at the very least than he had been before to admit that she no longer appeared to be someone he should worry about. If being a smartass didn’t show well enough that he wasn’t quite so pissed or on edge then he didn’t know what would.
“No, Raphael,” she said, accentuating his name in a droll way just to pick at him. “Big Red just sorta grew on me.”
It was either the nickname or himself in general that had grown on her if her apparent desire to become all buddy-buddy with him was anything to go by.
“Well, don’t let it grow on you anymore than it already has. And for the record, if you ain’t plannin’ on usin’ my full name, then just stick with Raph.”
“I think I can manage that.”
“Good. Now come on,” he said, fingers wrapping around her wrist as he led her away from the railing and to the nearest closed door. “Might as well get that tour started.”
“I thought that was going to be Mikey’s thing.”
He smirked at her with a near devilish enjoyment over the mention of his younger brother.
“I know. It’ll really chaff his ass when he finds out I beat him to the punch.”
He let go of her wrist so he could push the door open, but he felt her closeness regardless of the loss of contact as he began to show her the home she’d been brought to, the lives she had now become a part of. Raphael may not have been able in that moment to call her a friend, but he could at the very least say that she no longer felt like an enemy.
He hoped things stayed that way.
A/N: She’s met the family and it looks like they’re moving closer to that whole friendship thing. Ain’t it just swell?
Gawd, Master Splinter, writing you was stressful as hell.
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